Insights on Immigration: VP Paul Ryan?

U-T San Diego’s Insights on Immigration, a panel of experts who regularly explore timely and often provocative issues, was created to better explore the many facets of immigration and provide more perspectives for readers.

Question: Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s pick for vice president, Paul Ryan, has said he supports additional fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border and has voted no on the DREAM Act. How might his selection affect the immigration conversation during the election cycle?

Ruben Barrales, San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce president, CEO

Paul Ryan’s selection as Mitt Romney’s vice president will have little impact on the immigration conversation. The overriding issues for most Americans, including Latinos, are job creation and strengthening our economy. These are issues where Ryan will be a strong voice.

On the issue of immigration, Paul Ryan has stated support for comprehensive immigration reform, guest-worker programs, expanding access to visas and increasing legal immigration.

Nonetheless, regrettably there is no real expectation that immigration reform will be moved to the top of the legislative agenda by the White House or Congress any time soon.

Rhonda Deniston, North County regional director of Stop Taxing Us, a conservative taxpayer advocacy/tea party group

Vice-president-select Paul Ryan’s support for border fencing and opposition to the Dream Act will frame a conversation with the hope that finally someone will be in the court of those who have serious concerns about border and national security, the threat of dangerous drug cartels and the flood of undocumented entries into the U.S. In addition, the issue of unlawful immigration will finally be addressed with commonsense solutions that deal with the root of our broken immigration system, that will be reformed for the benefit of all future immigrants, not just a Band-Aid fix for a select few.

Lilia Velasquez, immigration attorney and adjunct professor of law

As to be expected, Sen. Paul Ryan’s views on immigration issues are consistent with those of Mitt Romney. Although experts have argued further reinforcement of the border is not an effective deterrent of illegal immigration, it is difficult to oppose the sovereign right of a nation to protect and control its borders. Therefore, the Republican discussion will be focused on criticizing President Barack Obama’s policy of providing deferred action to certain undocumented students. The Republican Party will continue to argue that Obama abused his executive power and circumvented Congress. But will it promise to revoke this policy and risk losing Latino votes?

David Shirk, director of the Trans-Border Institute at USD

Neither Mitt Romney nor Rep. Paul Ryan is especially focused on immigration. Ryan was invited to the ticket because of his reputation for advocating fiscal discipline and smaller government, which belies the former Massachusetts governor’s weak credentials on the central issues Republicans are concerned about today. But, regardless of who is his vice president, Romney should take a hard look at our costly border buildup over the last 15 years and put that money to better use. Also, given President Barack Obama’s “deferred action” decree, Romney could just tax DREAM Act kids instead of deporting them, further reducing the burden on the 1 percent.

Peter Nunez, former U.S. attorney in San Diego

The Romney-Ryan ticket needs to differentiate itself from the “open borders” and pro-illegal alien philosophy espoused by the Obama administration by establishing a strong enforcement stance. Strengthening border enforcement is one part of the equation, as is Ryan’s opposition to the unilateral and unprecedented imposition of the DREAM Act by the president without congressional authorization. However, the Romney-Ryan ticket needs to campaign on a strong interior-enforcement agenda, including mandatory and universal use of the E-Verify system to ensure that illegal aliens do not take jobs from American citizens and legal immigrants.